Sovereign God Calls

"Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb" (Genesis 12:1-9, ESV).

One of the candidates in the last election for President in the Philippines claimed that he had read all the speeches of Winston Churchill.

My attention was really caught by his remark. For I had read a short version of the biography of Churchill. The man was even below the average, while in his class. He was able to pass the military exam, because the topic he had studied was exactly the subject in the exam. In the army, he was even demoted. But there was no point in his life, he got discouraged. He believed in the Providence of God. And he believed that he was destined for greatness.

Past in his 60's, while most men are enjoying their retirement, Churchill became the Prime Minister of Britain and led the people through WW2 until victory was gained!

In our text, we will study about a person, who believed the Sovereign Being who promised that he would become great.

This time let’s examine the passage that should give us some ideas of the workings of the Sovereign God, especially when He calls. Let us explore our topic, SOVEREIGN GOD CALLS, as we focus on our text (Gen. 12:1-9).

What could the Omnipotent God, who is in control of all things, do in our time? In what way(s) He manifests His Sovereign power in our life right now? What happens when He calls?

In Genesis 1-11, Moses, the writer of the Book, related how the world was ruined because of men's rebellion against God.

Chapter 11 narrated the rebellious act of men -- building a city and a high tower to promote their own selves and just to stay in one place. But, in the same chapter, it also displayed the Sovereign act of God. His Divine Will and Plan is Supreme and overrules whatever "great" plan of man.

Now, as we launch in chapter 12, we could see how God started the work of redemption.

In our text His Sovereign Act is displayed as He called Abraham. And as we study it, we could also learn at least three things, when the Sovereign God manifests His working in our life.

So, what do you think could happen, when the Creator of the Universe calls you? First…

I – God Blesses You In His Way (vv. 1-3).

We read verses 1-3, “Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"

God's command to Abram, later to be called Abraham, was initially given while he was in the city state of Ur in the land of Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2).

"Ur lied along the Euphrates river and was a land of grand architecture, riches, comfortable homes, music, and art..." When Abrahan received the command, he was living in "essentially... a booming economy..." But, the society was known for its idolatry -- worshipping the moon-god.